Stovepipe-thimble.



PATBNTBD MAR. s, 1903.

R. E. MANN..-

STOVEPIPE THIMBLE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB. 7. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

ylll 111 gal UNTTE STATES PATENT EEioE.

ROBERT E. MANN, OF HICKSVILLE, OHIO.

STOVEPIPE-THIMBLE.

QPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,029, dated March 3, 1903. Application filed February 7,1902. Serial No. 92,967. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hicksville, in the county of Defiance and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stovepipe-Thimbles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stovepipe fittings or connections, and has special reference to the connection usually made between a stovepipe and the flue-opening in the wall of a chimney.

To this end the invention contemplates a simple, practical, and reliable construction of Stovepipe-thimble designed for the reception of the stovepipe-seotion fitting in the flue-opening of a chimney-wall and comprising means for firmly holding the Stovepipesection in place within the flue-opening, thus lessening the liability of accidental displacement. In carrying out this object the invention has in view the provision of a simple form of clamp constituting an integral part of the thimble itself, whereby the latter may be manufactured at slight expense, while at the same time accomplishing every function of more complicated fastening devices and 'thimbles employed for a similar purpose.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

\Vhile the invention may be susceptible to some slight structural change, yet the preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective sectional view of a portion of a chimney-wall, showing fitted in the fine-opening thereof a Stovepipe-thimble embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the thimble removed from the chimney-wall and showing the stovepipe in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sheet metal blank from which the thimble is formed. Fig. 4is a section through the thimble, taken longitudinally thereof.

Like numerals of reference designate cor responding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention the thimble is preferably constructed from a single blank of sheet metal (designated by the numeral 1) and of sufficient length when bent into form to fit within the flue-opening of an ordinary chimney-wall 3. At its outer edge or, in other words, at the edge exposed within the room the sheetmetal blank 1, from which the thimble is formed, is provided with clampingmeans for the Stovepipe-section 4 designed to fit within the thimble. These clamping means constitute an important part of the present invention and essentially consist of a pair of oppositely-arranged spring clampjaws5. Thespringclamp-jaws5areproduced at one edge of the thimble-blank 1 by slits 6 running inward into the body of the blank from the edges thereof, which are united by the longitudinal seam 7. By cutting the slits 6 prior to bending the blank into form it is obvious that when the longitudinal or side edges of the thimble-blank are permanently united by the seam 7 a complete tube or short pipe is formed, while at the same time the spring clamp-jaws 5 remain free to be clamped upon the stovepipe-section 4. After the rolling or bending of the thimble-blank into tubular form the terminals of the clamp-jaws 5 are bent into substantially parallel relation to produce the bolt-ears 8, having openings 9 therein to receive a fastening-bolt 10. At the edge provided with the spring clamp-jaws 5 the metal is preferably bent inward to provide an annular reinforced rim 11, which tightly grips upon the pipe-section when the bolt 10 is tightened up.

It will be observed that the reinforced edge at the outer end of the thimble is formed by bending the metal inward. This not only materially strengthens the pipe-gripping portion of the thimble, but provides an edge grip of reduced area, much less than would be the case if the entire width of the portion outside the slits were forced into clamping engagement with the pipe. It is well known that where two pipes of this nature are clamped together and exposed to the action of moisture and the gases from products of combustion the iron will oxidize and deteriorate,with the result that it becomes extremely difficult to separate them, the difficulty increasing in proportion to the area of the clamping-surfaces engaged. By the use of a clamping edge of small area this objection is overcome. A

of the clamping, it being possible to clamp a surface of small area more tightly and with less exertion than a surface of large area.

It is deemed important that the spring clamping -jaws 5 extend substantially onehalf the circumference of the Thimble, whereby greater resiliency is provided and danger of breakage reduced to a minimum. The reinforcing rim 11 materially strengthens these clamping-jaws and overcomes any tendency to weakness that might result from the slitting of the blanks to points substantially diametrically opposite each other. In this resides the gist of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is' I As a new article of manufacture, a stovepipe-thimble formed of a single sheet of metal bent into tubular form and the proximate edges being secured together for the greater portion of the length of the tube, clampingjaws formed integral with the tube and separated therefrom by slits extending inwardly from the edges of the sheet, that end of the sheet at which the jaws are formed being turned inward to form a reinforced clampingsurface of reduced area, and the ends of said jaws being bent into parallel relation to form ears for the reception of a clamping member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT E. MANN. 

